Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GOT A QUESTION?

PARTICIPANTS

If you are coming on a course with us, you will need to fill out your enrolment and medical forms as completely and as honestly as possible. Your answers will only make us better prepared for your requirements. You can find the enrolment and medical forms in the downloads section of the website, located in the footer of each page.
This depends on a lot of things; what your school has asked to do, what your instructor has planned based on your learning aims, how many of you participate and also on what the weather is like. However, to give you an idea, below is a list of activities you might be doing:
  • Sailing
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Raft building
  • Orienteering
  • Camp craft
  • Beach activities
  • Life saving
  • First Aid
  • Beach clean-up
  • Deer spotting
Your instructor will encourage you to take part in every activity even if it seems a bit daunting at first. This might feel a little worrying to begin with, but you will soon realise that most things are not as scary or as difficult as they seem. The most challenging things are often the most rewarding!

Your instructor will not ask you to try something that they think is beyond your ability or that is unsafe, so give everything a go, you will be surprised how much you can achieve!

No specific level of physical fitness is needed. Anyone can participate! However, you should expect a physically challenging experience. The better prepared you are, the more enjoyable it will be.
There are very few medical conditions that should stop you from joining us. If you are uncertain in any way, just let us know before-hand so we can be better prepared for you and your special needs. We work with a diverse set of individuals with special needs, and our instructors are trained and experienced on this.

The answer to this is simple, you will get out of it what you put in! It might sound silly, but it’s true! The course will give you lots of opportunities to push yourself out of your comfort zone, to try new things you didn’t think you were capable of and to work together with others you might not have met before. Only if you take every one of these opportunities and try your hardest throughout the course will you discover something new about yourself and learn some great new skills for the future.

Dorms come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the course locations. You will mostly be sleeping in bunkbeds. Depending on the course, either your school or Outward Bound will put together a plan of who will be sharing a room. This will depend on how many students there are etc. But whoever you will be sharing with – being roommates is always a good way to get to get to know each other better!

You’ll be served freshly prepared food with plenty of variety on offer. Our catering team can also meet any dietary requirements, provided you let us know in advance.
 

Coming on an Outward Bound course is not like going on holiday, there is always plenty to do! To fit it all into the day we like to start the day bright and early. Below is a sample outline of what a typical day at Outward Bound is like:

  • 7am: Wake up
  • 7.30-9am: Breakfast
  • 9am-5pm: Activity time with  your instructor
  • 5pm-7pm: Dinner and free time
  • 7pm-8:30pm: Activity time with your instructor
  • 8:30pm-9:30pm: Free time
  • 9:30pm: To dorms
  • 10pm: Lights out

You are requested to bring your personal clothing such as socks and hat, sturdy hiking shoes that cover your toes, personal medication and a torch to help you see at night. For a full list of what to pack, please see our equipment list form in the downloads section of the website, located in the footer of each page. All other equipment that is needed for the course will be provided by Outward Bound.

 

Mobile phones and all electronic devices are a big NO with us! We want you to make the most of your experience and be fully present in the moment without distractions. Do bring your own cameras so you can capture some memorable moments, and your watch so you can be punctual!

A group will have up to 12 students and you will be with one of our instructors for the duration of your course. Depending on your course, these groups will be chosen by either your school or Outward Bound. Generally, you will be with at least one of your friends – and by the end of the course will have gained up to 10 more!

All of our centres have designated smoking areas for over 18’s only. Smoking is not allowed in any of our buildings, during activities or on your expedition. Anyone found breaking these rules will face our disciplinary process and may be asked to leave Outward Bound straight away.

The consumption of alcohol is also strictly forbidden.

SCHOOLS & PARENTS

We work with and deliver courses for groups and institutions, not individuals. Most of our work is with local and international schools, colleges and universities.

Yes of course! We just need to make sure we have an available slot for you. As the quality of our courses is very important to us, we make sure we don’t overload our resources and have a maximum of 4 groups out per week. Let us know when you can join us as soon as possible so we can book a slot for you – a lot of our courses are booked a year in advance. You can find a course booking form in the downloads section of the website, located in the footer of each page.

There is no straightforward answer to this question. The costs related to each course depend on a number of factors such as how many days, the location, special requirements, number of participants vs. instructors etc. Once you get in touch with us with your requirements, we can design a programme to suit your needs.

We can run our courses in English and/or Dutch. Some of our instructors also speak French, Spanish, and German.

Our long-standing reputation for safety is one of the most often-stated reasons for using Outward Bound, and having evolved over 75 years, we are considered as one of the most experienced in our field.

All of our stakeholders demand the highest standards of safety, and we recognise the importance of this. In addition to our own internal systems, policies, reviews and risk assessments, every two years Outward Bound Netherlands undergoes an external examination by Outward Bound International.

Our instructional staff undergo intensive training, both in The Netherlands, and through visiting Outward Bound schools elsewhere in the world. All instructors hold a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) issued by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, and hold up to date wilderness first responder and first aid certificates. All undertake  safeguarding courses, and undergo a programme of continuous professional development to ensure they operate at the highest possible levels.

You will have to let your families know that your mobile phones and all electronics except cameras will be taken away from you into our safekeeping for the entire duration of your course. For any emergency, they can contact our office, who will be in touch with the instructors during the course. All our instructors on the course will also have the emergency contacts of your family members should we need to contact them.

We have 24hr pastoral care in all our centres and sailing barges. Instructors are responsible for delivering the programme, meeting course outcomes and for the welfare and personal development needs of participants in their groups.

COVID-19

We have a COVID-19 response plan to guide the school’s response to the pandemic. The plan includes:

  1. Actively monitoring the situation as it evolves
  2. Following government guidance on travel risks when making course cancellation decisions
  3. Being prepared to respond to students or staff who show symptoms of flu-like illness
  4. Following government guidance on methods to prevent illness

Planning for possibility of widespread illness and programme disruption

While there are many sources for coronavirus information, our primary resources include:

  1. Health information from the National Institute for Public Health
    and the Environment (RIVM)
  2. Provincial, Council and other local health department advisories
  3. The World Health Organization
  4. Reputable news sources

Outward Bound Netherland’s courses will resume when travel restrictions, social (physical) distancing recommendations and orders, and community stay-in-place or quarantine orders are no longer in effect. We are also assessing the ability of local jurisdictions where we operate and their ability to support our students needs such as available medical care and emergency response. These are the primary factors as Outward Bound Netherlands analyses the evolving COVID-19 environment and the potential for resuming courses.

Outward Bound Netherlands has always placed a strong emphasis on personal hygiene and illness prevention. In our current world situation this is just as important now as it has always been. We follow guidance provided by the RIVM for preventing the spread of illness.

These practices will be emphasised on courses and include:

  1. Frequent handwashing with soap and water and when that is not available, using alcohol-based sanitiser with greater than 60% alcohol.
  2. Using the crook of your arm (inner elbow) to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
  3. Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  4. Carry disinfectant wipes to wipe surfaces before touching.
  5. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in classrooms and buildings.

Outward Bound staff and instructors are on alert monitoring flu-like symptoms and administering responsible self-care practices with students and following best practices as identified by the RIVM.

Outward Bound Netherlands is also actively monitoring staff at our locations. Anyone with reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 will be isolated from others and health care providers will be contacted.

Outward Bound Netherlands

Outward Bound® and the Compass Rose are each registered trademarks of Outward Bound International. Outward Bound Netherlands is an educational non-profit organisation registered under number 63491419.

ACCREDITATIONS
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Outward Bound International

Outward Bound Netherlands is proud to be part of Outward Bound International. Outward Bound International is a membership organisation of the worldwide Outward Bound network. This network consists of 34 Outward Bound schools around the world.